Amsterdam Defcon 1. It was amazing, out on the beachfront, getting sunburnt and the decks melting.

Breakthrough DJ/Producer of 2009:

Kid Kaos. He can do trance or electro or hard house or whatever, he's great.

The track that changed your life:

Probably 'French Kiss'. I went to hear Sasha play and he played it.

What makes a good DJ great:

Going into a club, seeing what the dancefloor's doing, and being able to change the music from one style to another if it's not working."

Most underrated DJ:

BK and Kutski.

Biggest challenge this year:

Changing agents was a massive challenge. I'd been with one for six or seven years but it was time to move on.

Top tech toy:

At the moment I'm practicing for a visual set so probably the Pioneer DVJ.

Lisa Lashes' schedule is both impressive and punishing - and that's not a cheeky reference to her latest single 'Bondage and Whips'. Over the latter part of the summer she spent just two days at her home. "I did six parties at Judgement Sunday at Eden, in Ibiza, which were really good. And before that it was Canada. I did a tour with Sander and BT and played at some new places. Rather than clubs, I played at Convention Centres for between 5000 and 7000 people." Having recently joined a new agency and management, the First Lady of hard house is booked up every weekend for the rest of the year. "I've got more bookings than I've ever had," she smiles. "January and February I'm going to be out of the country doing Australia, South Africa, China and America. And then I've got my Lashed events, which I'm starting up in March." Naturally, when Lisa does have some time at home she's usually holed up in her soundproofed den on the decks. "I play religiously for 10 – 12 hours," she says. "Every week I have a new mix CD, just to listen to in the car and give to my friends… I love it. Keep me down there, feed me and water me and I'm fine."